Just a few years ago, it looked as if Kirk Ferentz and Iowa were going to run off the tracks. Now, the Hawkeyes are a dark horse to contend for the national title. Tom Dienhart has more on Iowa, which is No. 8 in our preseason countdown of all 120 FBS teams.
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2009 (Junior): Not listed on two-deep following spring practice . . . saw action in 35-3 win at Iowa State, but had no statistics.

2008 (Sophomore): Not listed on depth chart following spring practice . . . saw action in 46-3 opening win over Maine, but had no statistics as offese rushed for 245 yards and gained 457 yards total offense . . . saw action in 42-0 win over Florida International, but had no statistics as offense rushed for 241 yards and gained 512 yards total offense . . . did not see action in 17-5 win over Iowa State . . . did not see action in 21-20 loss at Pittsburgh . . . did not see action in 22-17 loss to Northwestern . . . did not see action in 16-13 loss at Michigan State . . . saw action in 45-9 win at Indiana, but had no statistics as offense rushed for 227 yards and gained 422 yards total offense . . . did not see action in 38-16 win over Wisconsin . . . did not see action in 27-24 loss at Illinois . . . did not see action in 24-23 win over third-ranked Penn State . . . did not see action in 22-17 win over Purdue . . . did not see action in 55-0 wn at Minnesota . . . did not see action in 31-10 Outback Bowl win over South Carolina.

2007 (Freshman): Not listed on depth chart following spring practice . . . saw action on special teams in opening win over Northern Illinois, but recorded no statistics as defense allowed just 21 rushing yards and 235 yards total offense . . . saw action on special teams in win over Syracuse, but had no statistics . . . saw action on special teams in loss at Iowa State, but had no statistics . . . did not see action in loss at Wisconsin . . . saw action on special teams in loss to Indiana, but had no statistics . . . saw action on special teams in loss at Penn State, but had no statistics . . . saw action on special teams in win over 18th-ranked Illinois, but had no statistics . . . saw action in loss at Purdue, but had no statistics . . . saw action on special teams in double OT win over Michigan State, but had no statistics . . . saw action on special teams in win at Northwestern, but had no statistics . . . saw action on special teams in win over Minnesota, but had no statistics . . . saw action on special teams in loss to Western Michigan, but had no statistics.

2006 (Redshirt): Redshirted after joining team as a walk-on.

Personal: Born 5/20/87 . . . Biology major . . . earned 4.0 career grade point average . . . member of National Honor Society . . . named as Governor's Scholar . . . parents are Jan and Mike Petersen . . . high school coach was Tom McCleery.

High school honors: Earned honorable mention all-state recognition as a senior . . . was first team all-District as a junior and senior . . . team captain . . . Career - - rushed for 703 yards in nine games as a senior, along with 229 receiving yards, 236 yards on punt returns and 326 yards on KO returns . . . scored 13 touchdowns, while also recording 79 tackles and four pass interceptions on defense . . . totaled 508 rushing yards and 203 receiving yards as a junior, while scoring nine touchdowns . . . recorded 47 tackles and three interceptions as a junior . . . earned three letters in football as running back and linebacker . . . was five-year letterman in baseball, earning first team all-state honors for two years . . . also lettered three times in basketball and four years in golf.